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Bly Spartans 3 City 2

- 10/10/2009

It would be hard to deny that City deserved a share of the points at Strood this afternoon. It would also be reasonable to suggest that had they been awarded two penalties for what seemed like a couple of cases of undeniable handball, they might even have taken all three. But the fact was they didn't and the tide of successive defeats in league and cup now stretches to four.

For City the day's disappointment was compounded by the fact that as frustration built towards the end of the game captain Luke Lockhart was sent off after a tangle with one of the Bly forwards.

Manager Dave Fairclough was able to say that much of the football City showed was encouraging, as it had been the previous week in the cup tie against Lydd. But he was honest enough to "we just can't keep giving away goals".

With Wayne Fittall able to come into the side as a second half substitute, and Royston Gough often given better service than in earlier games, there were times when City looked a much better unit than of late. But, again, few of the chances that were offered beat a rugged and well organised defence, while at the back the defence had too many indecisive moments which played directly into the hands of some lively and determined Bly Spartans strikers.

Shortly before the match goalkeeper Danny Wrench had to cry off, leaving young Matt Hewitt to take over, which he did well. And with injury problems, once again there was not much chance of the manager being able to move towards a settled First team squad. Dave Read had to take a central defensive position next to Luke Lockhart while up front at the start Adam Woollcott linked with Gough, with Liam Whiting taking an advanced midfield role.

In the early stages City were encouragingly positive. Woollcott was lively but then Bly became the more dangerous side, hitting the post off a City defender and always looking to get the hard working Lee Sperring into the action. Even so, Gough was getting some good opportunities to run at the Bly defence, mainly as a result of long but often accurate through balls. After 25 minutes his pace forced Bly to settle for a corner.

In the 26th minute City had the first of what seemed a number of legitimate calls for a penalty. This one came when a shot from Dave Read was deflected. Rightly, Bly ignored the appeals, played to the absence of a whistle and a long cross from Kes Hayford was headed close by Sperring.

Bly's keeper Rowan Arnott was called on to make a fine catch after Sam Baker put Gough in possession. The shot was curling away from Arnott but he pulled it down to safety.

If City could rightly claim several penalties, at least they got one in the 37th minute when Craig Southern was brought down just inside the box. Lockhart coolly placed the ball beyond Arnott to take City ahead.

Five minutes before half-time City almost extended their lead when a pass from Mike Seager found Gough who volleyed a fraction wide. Bly were always good at coming back from any threat of danger. Two minutes before half-time they built a move that sliced through City's midfield and ended with Hayford side-footing the ball in after Read had blocked the first shot on the line.

Some uncertain defending in the early moments of the second half put City in danger. Sperring again proved the most troublesome of opponents, cracking a shot close after City wasted their own free-kick. Hewitt saved safely from a powerful low shot from Sperring but when Ashley Cooper was given space he smashed in Bly's second.

Gough kept making runs at the Bly defence but if anyone had a right to feel they were not getting the rub of the green it was him. So it was a relief to City when, in the sixty second minute, Ben Smith came through the midfield and turned the ball across the penalty area for Woollcott who took it under control and sent in the equaliser.

The arrival of Fittall added some power and imagination to the at